THE DEFINITIVE SPECIAL OPERATIONS RESOURCE

Marine Recon and MARSOC

Before Special Operations was even a term, the Marine Corps tried to cultivate the capability. The Marine Raider Battalions and Amphibious Reconnaissance Companies of WWII formed the basis of all of the Marine Corps’ capabilities in the field of SOF ever since.

Today, the Marine Corps Special Operations Capable forces are divided between the Recon Battalions, the Force Recon Companies, and the Marine Special Operations Battalions. The Recon Battalions are the eyes and ears of the three Marine Divisions, while the Force Companies, generally composed of more experienced Recon Marines, work for the Marine Expeditionary Forces, at a higher strategic tier. The Marine Special Operations Battalions, originally stood up in 2006 from the deactivated Force Recon Companies, work directly for SOCOM. In 2008, due to the fact that the MSOBs get their orders from SOCOM and not from the Marine Corps, it was decided to reactivate the Force Recon Companies, though they are presently administratively controlled by the Recon Battalions.

This Month In History

Latest Articles

The British government isn’t backing down from accusing the Russians of being behind the attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson saying that the Russians are stockpiling the nerve agent used in the attack. Sergei and his daughter Yulia Skripal remain critically ill in hospital after being found slumped on a bench and exposed to the substance in Salisbury. Johnson also dismissed a suggestion by Russia's EU ambassador that the agent might have come from a UK laboratory. Vladimir Chizhov had said the Porton Down lab in Wiltshire may have been the source of the substance. Prime Minister Theresa May has said Russia is "culpable" for the attack. On Sunday, newly elected President Vladimir Putin denied Russia was behind the incident but added that he was "ready for co-operation" with the UK. He told reporters: "Any reasonable person understands that it would be total rubbish, ravings and nonsense for anyone in Russia to allow themselves such antics ahead of the election and the World Cup." UK Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs that Porton Down - Britain's military research base - identified the substance used as being part of a group of military-grade nerve agents known as MORE »